44 mag cast bullets

[bigpete]

Does anyone know where in Australia I might be able to get .429 rnfp plain base cast bullets of around 280-300gn ?

[Rifle realist]

Hi Bigpete
Try Westcast projectiles. I use the 405 gn in my 45/70, they work well.
Email : westcastingsaust@iinet.net.au

[bigpete]

Cheers mate do they have a website ?

[Rifle realist]

WESTCASTINGS PROJECTILES – Official Web Site
www.westcastings.org

[bigpete]

Cheers looks like exactly what I want

[Oldbloke]

Slightly off topic. But u seem to be into castlead projetiles. Wouldnt you be better off buying a mould and casting them yourself?

[bigpete]

I've got moulds for my black powder rifle but I only cast pure lead which I've been told is no good for loading into my 44. Plus the price of a mold is usually too expensive just to experiment with. I've also been told I need to buy a lube sizer as well to get the bullet diameters correct, so at the end of the day I'd rather just buy them when I need them

[bladeracer]

I've got moulds for my black powder rifle but I only cast pure lead which I've been told is no good for loading into my 44. Plus the price of a mold is usually too expensive just to experiment with. I've also been told I need to buy a lube sizer as well to get the bullet diameters correct, so at the end of the day I'd rather just buy them when I need them

Did they give you any reason?
Lee moulds are $39 from Western Firearms.
I shoot pure lead in my 8x57mm Mauser with zero problems.
I don't size my bullets generally but I do have sizing dies for them, just never found any advantage. Pure lead swages down _very_ easily.
If you want to try casting without great expense, get a lead pouring ladle, a mold and a gas torch or camp stove.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lyman-Lead-D ... Sw~OdVdtx9
I poured many hundreds this way before getting an electric melting pot.
You can get 10kg of #8.5 Magnum shot for about $60 which is slightly harder than pure lead. Otherwise, Bunnings sells pure lead roof flashing, but it's more expensive than shot. I saw a deal on duck ammo quite recently that was even cheaper than buying just the shot.
If you get right into it Northern Smelters sells bullet casting lead http://www.northernsmelters.com.au/prod ... l#leadshot

[Oldbloke]

Thats pretty much what I was going to say. I havnt cast for a while but expect to start again soon. I have stuck with the camp stove and pot system and to harden up the lead I just add a few wheel weights. Dont bother resizing any more. Works a treat in the old 3006. FYI I use shot gun powder. Cheap as chips.

[bigpete]

Ah OK cool I've got a s**t load of free lead so maybe I should get a mold ! Cheers guys !

[Oldbloke]

Another discussion on the subject here.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2997

And here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1519

[bigpete]

Just another question if you cast a gas checked boolit do you absolutely have to use a gas check with it ? I just can't see any real reason why you can't just shoot them without the gas check just like you would a normal plain base bullet,provided you don't push velocity too high

[bladeracer]

Just another question if you cast a gas checked boolit do you absolutely have to use a gas check with it ? I just can't see any real reason why you can't just shoot them without the gas check just like you would a normal plain base bullet,provided you don't push velocity too high

No, you can run them without. I run checks though to minimise leading regardless of velocity.
I run pure lead at around 1400fps but I have punched a lead 8mm cast bullet through 8mm steel plate at 100 yards at over 2500fps.

I've got a fox just outside yelling to his mates tonight, will have to go out at dawn and see if I can nail him

[bigpete]

Hope you get him I reckon I might invest in a Lee 429310 double mold then if I can just use pure lead and maybe just cut the gas check tail section off if I need to. Adi manual gives a 300gn load with 2205 that should run under 1400 if I don't load too high

[Oldbloke]

Pete,
There should be no need to trim the gas check section of the projectile.

More info here for you mate. Just remember you need plenty of ventilation, safety glasses and gloves (leather are great) when melting lead.

https://www.ssaa.org.au/stories/ammunit ... oters.html

[bigpete]

Cheers,I actually already do a bit of casting for my hawken and for buckshot loads. Only reason I'm not for the 44 is because of what I was told

[bladeracer]

Hope you get him I reckon I might invest in a Lee 429310 double mold then if I can just use pure lead and maybe just cut the gas check tail section off if I need to. Adi manual gives a 300gn load with 2205 that should run under 1400 if I don't load too high

As Oldbloke says, no need to do anything to the bullet, they work just fine unchecked.

Don't overheat the lead, apart from taking a lot longer to harden it starts giving off toxic fumes at high temps. If it has any impurities they might also give off fumes, even at lower temps.
I sit out in the barn when casting. When it's very cold it helps to imagine I'm a cowboy, on the range, casting his bullets over his campfire...while freezing his arse off

[Oldbloke]

I do all my casting in the garage, with the roller door and rear wide open. But come to think of it the rear verandah would be good too. I use a lee casting block for the 3006. Works fine for me.

[bigpete]

Yeah I do my casting outside don't want to take any chances